Related Experiment Videos
The regional distribution of vitamins E and C in mature and premature human retinas
J C Nielsen1, M I Naash, R E Anderson
1Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Insights
Premature infants have low retinal vitamin E but high vitamin C. Vitamin E supplementation rapidly increases these levels, especially in infants over 27 weeks gestation, aiding retinopathy of prematurity treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity is a significant concern in premature infants.
- Vitamin E is a potential therapeutic agent, but its baseline levels and supplementation effects in premature infant retinas are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine baseline vitamin E and C levels in premature infant retinas.
- To investigate the impact of vitamin E supplementation on these levels.
Main Methods:
- Measured vitamin E and C levels in mature retinas and premature infant retinas (22-33 weeks gestation).
- Compared levels between infants receiving no vitamin E and those receiving supplementation, categorized by survival time and gestational age.
Main Results:
- Premature infants have significantly lower baseline retinal vitamin E (5-12% of mature levels), particularly in avascular regions.
- Retinal vitamin E levels increase with gestational age and are markedly elevated with supplementation in infants >27 weeks gestation.
- Premature infants exhibit higher retinal vitamin C levels (35-50% above mature levels).
Conclusions:
- Premature infants are born with low retinal vitamin E but abundant retinal vitamin C.
- Vitamin E supplementation effectively and rapidly increases retinal vitamin E levels, especially in infants >27 weeks gestation.
Abstract:
Vitamin E is used to ameliorate retinopathy of prematurity, but little is known about baseline vitamin E levels in retinas of premature infants or the effect of vitamin E supplementation on these levels. Vitamin E and C levels were measured in mature retinas (1 month to 73 years) and in retinas of premature infants (22 to 33 weeks of gestation). The infants fell into two groups: (1) those who survived less than 12 hr and received no vitamin E, and (2) those who survived greater than 4 days and received vitamin E supplementation. Premature infants are born with 5 to 12 percent the vitamin E levels found in mature retinas. Vitamin E levels in vascular and avascular retina of premature infants increased with gestation. Infants born greater than 27 weeks gestation and surviving at least 4 days with vitamin E supplementation demonstrated markedly elevated vitamin E levels in vascular and avascular retina when compared to supplemented infants less than 27 weeks gestation. Premature infants possessed 35-50% higher levels of retinal vitamin C than those found in mature retinas. These data demonstrate that premature infants are born with relatively low levels of retinal vitamin E, particularly in the avascular region, but contain an abundance of retinal vitamin C. These data further suggest that vitamin E supplementation results in a rapid increase in retinal vitamin E levels, particularly in infants greater than 27 weeks gestational age.